OK, granted, my car is old and tired. You might even say geriatric. It is a well worn 95 Pontiac Sunfire GT.
Yesterday I was running on empty. I have been for a couple days now (work is only 1.5 miles from home), but yesterday was the first day the "check gauges" light came on.
I had a little work to do before I could buy gas (go get my deposits back on $12 worth of Diet Coke cans) so I drove down to the market to do that. My needle stayed below empty.
Then when I got back in the car to drive to the gas station, it said 1/4 tank. I wasn't on a hill or anything.
This is where it gets weird. I started driving to the gas station, about three miles away. Over the eight or nine minues it took me to go those 3 miles, my needle climbed very steadily to full and past! It said it had a totally full tank! This is BEFORE I put my $12 of gas in!!!
After I pumped the four and some-odd gallons, it read fine, and has since. What gives?
2007-03-14 02:54:27 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
My first thought was that the sensor was getting stuck somewhere, but the climb to (and past) "F" was very steady.
The drive was on flat roads, so I'm stumped!
2007-03-14 02:55:20 · update #1
Gremlins and formaldehyde!!!
Should I have not gassed it up after midnight?
2007-03-14 03:25:22 · update #2
You've got a loose wire, or a bad sending unit from the tank. If I were you, I would just keep up with the miles each time you fill it up, and don't drive more than say 330 mi., or so before filling up.
2007-03-14 03:07:27 · answer #1 · answered by Ben H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sending unit, a device in your gas tank with a float attached that tells the gauge how much gas is in your tank, is sticking. It would probably be about a $300 repair on your car. Probably not worth it.
If you want to take a chance at it:
You could try using Chevron Techron Conventrate. Sold at most auto parts stores. Get the concentrate, not the additive, and get the big bottle. It will cost about $10 but worth it as it cleans up much of the fuel system. There is a *chance* it will clean up the sending unit and you'll buy yourself a bit more time, but no guarantees. Even if it doesn't fix that issue, by cleaning up your injectors, valves, etc. it will be worth it (unless you've just done it recently).
Car doesn't sound too bad, I drive a 1995 GM product with 155,000 and it's still going strong. :)
2007-03-14 03:50:59 · answer #2 · answered by Brian D 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All the Formaldehyde your consuming from the Diet Coke has got you hallucinating! Seriously, the only thing i've seen cause a needle to swing that far on it's own was when one of the gas gauge wires coming out of the fuel tank grounded out, causing it to swing back and forth at will. When a tank gets near empty, the needle will sometimes swing a good half-tank's worth of area when you go around a sharp corner, accelerate or stop quickly. Very strange, indeed! The "check gauges" light is just to let you know that your fuel gauge reads empty. : )
2007-03-14 03:06:25 · answer #3 · answered by Fitron 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's probably a broken wire to the float. When it came loose, the gauge would stay below empty, and when it shorted to ground, the gauge would go above full. The gauge is made to change very slowly so it won't bounce around as the gas sloshes.
2007-03-14 05:08:00 · answer #4 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like the float is sticking in the gas tank.also (but very unlikely)it could be a bad fuel guage.also,maybe a bad ground,just grounding part of the time.also,ive noticed mine before,when i stop,it shows either a full tank,a 3/4 tank or empty tank.it depends wher it was pointing to when you shut the switch off.i got a 1988 olds,and these gm cars has a floating guages.
2007-03-14 03:51:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gas sending unit is failing.
2007-03-14 03:08:30 · answer #6 · answered by gejandsons 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell the gremlins to leave your car!!!
Seriously it sounds like you are having electrical problems, take it to a trusted technician and have him/her look at it for a proper diagnosis and repair.
2007-03-14 03:01:53 · answer #7 · answered by num1huckfinn 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Such a reaction by your fuel gauge could only mean one thing, it is time to sell your piece of junk, er, I mean your old car and get a newer one. I am surprised the piece of tin, er, I mean vehicle still runs.
2007-03-14 03:02:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Maybe your car had a bean burrito before you went to work. Try some gas-x
2007-03-14 03:03:40 · answer #9 · answered by jesta.drifter 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
there is a wiring problem, can be easily fixed
2007-03-14 03:02:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋